(1) Long term care facilities, as defined in ORS § 442.015, and residential care facilities, as defined in ORS § 443.400, subject to ORS § 441.605 (11), shall permit individuals and representatives of community service organizations, including community legal services programs, whose purpose is rendering service without charge to residents, to have full and free access to the facility during reasonable visiting hours to:

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(a) Visit, talk with and make personal, social and legal services available to all residents.

(b) Inform residents of their rights and entitlements, and their corresponding obligations, under federal and state laws by means of distribution of educational materials and discussion in groups and with individual residents.

(c) Assist residents in asserting their rights regarding claims for public assistance, medical assistance and Social Security benefits and other rights. Assistance may be provided individually, as well as on a group basis.

(d) Engage in all other methods of assisting, advising and representing residents so as to extend to them the full enjoyment of their rights.

(2) A resident retains the right to refuse contact by any individual or group having access to the facility under this section.

(3) As used in this section, ‘full and free access’ means access to the fullest extent possible without undue adverse interference on the operation of the facility. [1981 c.99 § 1; 1987 c.548 § 7]

(Complaint File)